In better news, my Boskone schedule!
Friday 18:00 - 18:50, My Origin Stories, Harbor I ( Westin)
How did you become a genre reader? What was the first book you read? When did you realize other fans existed? When did you decide to become a writer/artist/editor/agent? How did you break into the biz? What do beginnings tell us about a person's character or arc in life? Our panelists will start us off -- then get ready to add your own startup stories.
Steve Miller (M), Joshua Bilmes, Elizabeth Bear, Jim Frenkel
Saturday 11:00 - 11:50, "The Paper Menagerie:" Anatomy of a Winning Story, Burroughs ( Westin)
Ken Liu's 2011 short story "Paper Menagerie" is the first fiction to win all three of SF's major honors: the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards. Let's all read it beforehand, then talk. (PDF at http://ow.ly/flrU7) How does it do what it does? What makes a story so popular? What makes a story great?
Theodora Goss (M), S. C. Butler, Elizabeth Bear, David G. Hartwell
Saturday 12:00 - 13:00, Kaffeeklatsche, Galleria-Kaffeeklatsch 2 ( Westin)
Elizabeth Bear
Saturday 15:00 - 15:50, Writing Advice: The Next Level, Harbor II ( Westin)
Writer Nick Mamatas says, "By the time someone finds their way to a panel at an SF con, stuff like 'Don't quit your day job' and 'Read widely' and 'You have to finish a story before you submit it' is no longer necessary...There is certainly a need for higher-level advice. I had a student recently who had never heard of Freytag's triangle." So let's elevate the answers, people--and the questions.
Jeanne Cavelos (M), Elizabeth Bear, Beth Meacham, David Anthony Durham, Kate Baker
Sunday 10:00 - 10:50, Worlds You Won't Forget, Harbor I ( Westin)
Sometimes a created world is so vivid or unusual, it becomes a character in its own right. From old favorites like Ringworld, Riverworld, and Middle Earth to newer, less well-known places like Shellworld, Earwa, or Umayma, what fantastic landscapes do you remember best? What makes a world come alive? Is detailed worldbuilding always worth it for the reader?
David Anthony Durham (M), Charles Stross, Melinda Snodgrass
Sunday 11:00 - 11:50, Podcasting a Wide Net, Griffin ( Westin)
It started with monologues and interviews, but panel shows and fiction readings now generate the most buzz for SF/F/H's new-tyme 'radio.' It's like a con in your computer (or your pocket), whenever you want! What are today's must-listen podcasts? How can you create, distribute, and promote your own? How do first-class casters keep the talk flowing?
Bob Kuhn (M), Heather Dale, Elizabeth Bear, Julia Rios, Kate Baker
Sunday 13:00 - 14:00, Autographing, Galleria-Autographing ( Westin)
Elizabeth Bear
Sunday 14:00 - 14:50, The Genre's All A-Twitter, Harbor II ( Westin)
Which SF/F/H writers, editors, artists, and fans on Twitter are worth following? How do the pros use this most microscopic of social media to keep their fans informed and amused? What makes a great tweet? Is this your best chance to get noticed by Neil Gaiman?
Gillian Daniels (M), Charles Stross, Elizabeth Bear, Shira Lipkin